I gave the DR too much credit in my first post. Finding ADV and getting to know some of the great people here changed my life. That may sound a little over the top but if someone would have told me five years ago that in a couple years time that I'd buy a motorcycle, meet a whole new group of people that would become life long friends and we would load up our bikes and ride a trail from New Mexico to Montana and that I would buy another bike and spend my vacations riding around with my wife and sleeping on the ground again like a kid I would have laughed my ass off.

When I discovered your ride reports and read your stories about you and Julie travelling together on your Strom I thought it would be so cool to do that. We're fortunate men to be married to women with a common passion. I can emulate you as far as the wife as a riding partner and a silver VStrom, the awesome heartfelt storytelling and the incredible pictures, not so much.

If someone would say H14 and Campcook are the B-movie version of iDave and iJulie I would take it as a hell of compliment.

No offense Dave! and Dave. I'm ready to lurk the next LoveShack joint.

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ADVers are out of control and that's their charm, they don't line up, they don't have standards they follow, each and every one does their own thing. They know how to ride free - BugSister. Jax mediocre photo thread20% Smugmug discount coupon

We wake up Monday morning to a pretty brisk 42 degrees. We woke to bright sunshine, my first thought was oh man I can't believe we slept in. We had a lot of riding planned and wanted to get an early start. I rolled over and checked the clock thinking it was probably 7 or 8 o'clock, it was 5:15.
This would be a typical morning for us, most mornings we would pack, eat breakfast and be riding by 7:30.

Out west they have mountain passes, in our part of the country we call them gaps, here they are known as notches and today we're riding as many as we can. First up was Smuggler's Notch, not Snuggler's Notch like SOMEBODY thought . By the end of the day we had ridden Smuggler's Notch, Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, and Evans Notch.

We rode RT 100, the Kancamangus Highway, and Hurricane Mountain Rd. The Kancamangus was beautiful, there were places along the way that reminded me so much of riding out west. Hurricane Mtn Rd was a freaking roller coaster, I liked it but I don't think the Strom's suspension did though.

We took a quick break at Beaver Brook along the Kanc.

Next up was Mt Washington. I wasn't sure if we would be up to it or not, I was afraid Rhonda would not enjoy the climb on the back of a bike. But she wanted to try it, it had rained there the day before and a system was moving in that night bringing a couple days of rain. We knew this would be our only shot so we went for it.

About 2/3 of the way up where the pavement turns to dirt we start seeing snow.

I like how our bike stands out in a crowd.

Somebody's happy we made it to the top.

Hey, time to put all your crap back on, we've got to ride back down this thing.

We get to the bottom of Mt Washington and we are only 12 miles from Timberland campground in Gorham, NH where we are planning to camp. The weather reports say a system is coming overnight bringing two days of rain. We're both ready to stop for the day but we know every extra mile we ride today will be a dry mile versus a wet mile tomorrow. We decide to push on another 90 miles to Rangeley Lake State Park in Maine.

These signs started getting a little worrisome especially once evening started approaching.

And they weren't kidding.

What was really unnerving were the moose warning signs with flashing yellow lights saying use caution high moose collision area next 17 miles.
I noticed in Maine they will have a couple mile stretch with moose crossing signs then the next couple miles with deer crossing signs. So riding along on the bike I'm thinking, so deer don't cross where moose cross? Because I busted this guy in a moose crossing zone.

Couple hours later we get to Rangeley Lake, set up the tent, eat dinner, and wait for the rain to come.

__________________TISELife is what you make of it~If it don't fit make alterationsCheck it from time to time as I'm always adding to it..My Rides and life on the FarmJust because the road is rocky doesn't mean your spirits should get rocky, too.{Crazy Cora}

It's been a few years since I last went, but if I remember correctly, you were there right about the same time as Laconia Bike week in NH; that might explain all the Harleys.

Great start to the RR Kevin; can't wait to see the rest of what you got!

__________________XC Rider
"Motorcycles have put me in touch with wonderful people. As a result of that, I have an elevated idea about how good everybody in the world is." - Ted SimonMy Ride Reports.SpotWalla: WHERE IS XC RIDER!?